This is a discussion on Should beginners play tournaments within the online poker forums, in the Tournament Poker section; I've been playing poker for play money online and studying books on poker about a year. I finally got my nerve up to sit at

Should beginners play tournaments

I've been playing poker for play money online and studying books on poker about a year. I finally got my nerve up to sit at digital poker table (that has no dealer) to test my skills on a cruise and I won 5 out 6 sessions. My next gold was to sit at an actual casino table with a dealer.
I played my first cash game today (1/2bb no-limit), and I won 150.00 in 20min, then I quit. I figured I was ahead and my goal was to just sit at a table, not lose money and get used to it.

The fact the money was changing hands so quickly made me nervous, it might of been just that game, but I think I should play a tournament because it may give me more time to be at a table, get used to the process, work on my game, and relax more. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

I see no reason why new players shouldn't play tournament's. Like any other game there are nuisances that make tournament play different than cash games. Just like cash game play you will need to know these differences and how to apply tournament concepts.

#3

January 8th, 2018, 8:06 AM

GLovvorn

Poker at: PokerStars

Game: holdem

Posts: 50

Tournaments can be a good way to play cheap until you get used the mechanics of the game and become more comfortable. Playing nervous or scared is never a good idea. Be aware though that tourneys can be a hard way to show a profit if your game isn't up to speed and the more people in them the more variance you are going to see.

#4

January 8th, 2018, 9:59 AM

Lorpugo

Online Poker at: pokerstars

Game: holdem nle

Posts: 446

you have 150 play microstakes 0.01/0.02 before going to 1/2

#5

January 8th, 2018, 12:39 PM

Amdrius

Poker at: PokerStars

Game: NL Holdem

Posts: 359

Originally Posted by Tim Kim

I've been playing poker for play money online and studying books on poker about a year. I finally got my nerve up to sit at digital poker table (that has no dealer) to test my skills on a cruise and I won 5 out 6 sessions. My next gold was to sit at an actual casino table with a dealer.
I played my first cash game today (1/2bb no-limit), and I won 150.00 in 20min, then I quit. I figured I was ahead and my goal was to just sit at a table, not lose money and get used to it.

The fact the money was changing hands so quickly made me nervous, it might of been just that game, but I think I should play a tournament because it may give me more time to be at a table, get used to the process, work on my game, and relax more. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

If you are concerned that the money at the tables in the cash game will change owners so quickly, then in tournaments you will feel comfortable only at low levels of blinds in deep stack tournaments. If for you the instant result of saving and multiplying money is important and their loss pushes you into frustration - leave poker. It is also unclear why you are a player without experience immediately sat at the table with 1-2 $ blinds? can start with lower limits? In order to feel more relaxed?

#6

January 8th, 2018, 1:59 PM

vov4ik

Online Poker at: pokerstars

Game: хl

Posts: 2,866

re: Poker & Should beginners play tournaments

For beginners, it is better to start playing in the tournament and try your skills and learn and not to lose a lot of money, and in the cash game you can quickly lose the newbie money because experienced players play at big bets, for beginners you can play in the cash game but at rates 0.01 -0.02 or 0.02-0.05 cents and this is a good bet for a beginner in the cash game!

#7

January 8th, 2018, 4:16 PM

infonazar

Poker at: PokerStars

Game: NL Holdem

Posts: 1,376

Take it easy, sometimes, it happens. You need try playing the league-elementary and some other freerolls tournaments.

#8

January 8th, 2018, 5:59 PM

kraemer

Online Poker at: partypoker

Game: Omaha

Posts: 369

Beginners usually are better of of playing cash games... Because You can quit anytime! A tournament requires You to stay really alert and focused for long hours. But if You are sure You are capable of that then take a shot at MTTs.

As a beginner You should probably NOT play 1/2 no-limit holdem... Try to get used to the game online where You can play for very small stakes or find yourself a home game where people play with micro blinds. If You find yourself playing profitable for a while then move up the limits.

#9

January 8th, 2018, 7:21 PM

Chito

Posts: 120

tourny poker is what i would reccomend to someone starting out over cash personally. i feel you run in to way more regs at low stakes cash vs tourny.

#10

January 8th, 2018, 8:09 PM

mbrenneman0

Online Poker at: ACR

Posts: 1,528

I always recommend to learn online at the lowest stakes before playing live. Because you will learn many more lessons by losing $200 online than you will by losing $2000 live

#11

January 9th, 2018, 12:02 AM

Klito

Poker at: Pokerstars

Game: Holdem

Posts: 180

As a beginner you should play only tournaments Especially freerolls or some small buy ins to improve your game

#12

January 9th, 2018, 12:09 AM

mackmasterss

Online Poker at: CC League

Game: Holdem/Omaha

Posts: 4,917

re: Poker & Should beginners play tournaments

start playing low limits, I recommend you play at tables of only 6 players and with limits 01/02 cents, good luck!

#13

January 9th, 2018, 4:41 AM

Cazador twd

Posts: 109

I think whether to play tournaments so you're a beginner because the best way to learn to play this in practice

#14

January 9th, 2018, 7:54 AM

ucdengboss

Game: Holdem

Posts: 205

The nice thing is that you kniw exactly what you risk when entering a tournament. If the buy in is $2+0.20, then the most you lose is $2.20. And start at much lower limits or buy-in than you think is ok. It is much much better to play too low of a buy in than a buy in that is too high for your bankroll.

#15

January 9th, 2018, 1:57 PM

GeoStampede

Poker at: Pokerstars

Game: Hold'em

Posts: 31

I think the main difference between a cash table and any MTT is the speed of it. in a cash table you ain't waiting anything, you buy-in, sit, and play until you lose it all or you double-up your buy-in (or you get bored, whatever the case). On the other hand, an MTT may take you up to four to five hours, and patience here is well-rewarded, as most of the times only a 5% or so get to the cashing-out positions. This normally means that you need to be extremely cautious with the hands you play.
Also, an MTT has different stages, so the playstyle for each may differ (or at least in my opinion, should vary), as for early stages you can start a bit tight but allowing yourself to see many flops as the blinds are fairly low and your stack will be normally 40 times a blind or more.

So, should a beginner play an MTT? Of course, it is not a thing of experiece (although it really helps), but a patience game.
The question should be, am I prepared to play on an MTT? (To which I would reply that you totally are, at least based on your statement about the dedication you've been putting in studying poker and stuff)

#16

January 16th, 2018, 6:35 AM

Tim Kim

Posts: 3

Originally Posted by Amdrius

Ifyou are concerned that the money at the tables in the cash game will change owners so quickly, then in tournaments you will feel comfortable only at low levels of blinds in deep stack tournaments. If for you the instant result of saving and multiplying money is important and their loss pushes you into frustration - leave poker. It is also unclear why you are a player without experience immediately sat at the table with 1-2 $ blinds? can start with lower limits? In order to feel more relaxed?

Thanks for the feedback the lowest limits are 1/2 in the poker room near me. I'll try the tournaments and see what happens. Thanks again.

#17

January 16th, 2018, 6:39 AM

Tim Kim

Posts: 3

Thanks I have started playing online and I'm starting to get dialed in. Thanks again.

#18

January 16th, 2018, 6:51 AM

Rvstam

Online Poker at: Pokerstars

Game: Holdem

Posts: 120

re: Poker & Should beginners play tournaments

try yourself in tournaments. good luck favors you. start on freerolls you will gain a good experience.

#19

January 16th, 2018, 10:29 AM

1my

Poker at: pokerstars

Game: holdem

Posts: 6

beginners have to learn how to play poker by practice a lot and read a lot of things about the game ,good luck everyone with that

the biginners should watch pro players and try to understand the game .

#20

January 16th, 2018, 11:41 AM

frnandoh

Online Poker at: 888

Game: Holdem

Posts: 1,046

The first step at beggining is to be a pro player. professional? Not, I am talking about to be a profitable player. Cash games and mtt's are relatively hard because they have much morre things to learn and sng are fast and dry. I really recommend beginning in sng's.

#21

January 16th, 2018, 12:48 PM

Brandlad

Poker at: 888poker.com

Posts: 591

As a beginner start playing freeroll tourneys the move to low buyin tourneys. Cash game tactics are totally different than tourneys.

#22

January 16th, 2018, 2:40 PM

AshK44

Online Poker at: Pokerstars

Game: Hold’em

Posts: 277

New players only become experienced players by getting really experience. Take calculated risks and only play at the level your comfortable at with money that you are ok with losing. Learning how to lose in poker is just as important as learning how to win and that is something only you can learn through actually playing. Make sure to keep up your studies and never think you know it all. Just learn from your mistakes and make sure you learn about tilt. Good luck.

#23

January 16th, 2018, 11:27 PM

Alex Houngan

Poker at: Pokerstars

Game: Holdem

Posts: 179

Originally Posted by Brandlad

As a beginner start playing freeroll tourneys the move to low buyin tourneys. Cash game tactics are totally different than tourneys.

Yes, when people play their own money, they start thinking!

#24

January 16th, 2018, 11:47 PM

vpashuta

Online Poker at: Bet On Line

Game: holdem

Posts: 385

re: Poker & Should beginners play tournaments

Play any way you can. The only way to get better is to play, play , play. It sounds like you are a pretty tight player, so it doesn't cost you much to sit at a 1/2 table and play only monsters until you get the feel for playing live. Get in there, stop being a wuss.

#25

January 17th, 2018, 12:05 AM

dealio96

Poker at: 64spades/WPN

Game: NLHE/Razz

Posts: 7,781

In my opinion, tourneys are the best options for beginners(besides single table sng). They can luck sack their way to a win, and then will have plenty of buy-ins to practice at cash tables.

#26

January 21st, 2018, 4:47 AM

619Leafs

Online Poker at: 888 Poker

Game: Hold'em

Posts: 700

Originally Posted by Tim Kim

I've been playing poker for play money online and studying books on poker about a year. I finally got my nerve up to sit at digital poker table (that has no dealer) to test my skills on a cruise and I won 5 out 6 sessions. My next gold was to sit at an actual casino table with a dealer.
I played my first cash game today (1/2bb no-limit), and I won 150.00 in 20min, then I quit. I figured I was ahead and my goal was to just sit at a table, not lose money and get used to it.

The fact the money was changing hands so quickly made me nervous, it might of been just that game, but I think I should play a tournament because it may give me more time to be at a table, get used to the process, work on my game, and relax more. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

I actually would recommend that beginners play tournament poker because you control your budget my looking at what the buy in is and then during the tournament, you could afford take some risks such as calling allin with pairs or Aces high.

#27

February 3rd, 2018, 4:00 AM

Neol0107

Poker at: Pokerstar

Game: Holdem

Posts: 56

Maybe a beginner with some luck will take you out of an important tournament and maybe this will make you a little angry, but remember that for him it is an experience

#28

February 4th, 2018, 9:13 PM

Hellokeko

Posts: 40

Tournaments are great tools to build up confidence at playing poker either live or online. I would strongly recommend playing low buyin 1-2$ tourney's to gain knowledge and analyse the game of poker better.

#29

February 4th, 2018, 10:05 PM

LBRASIL

Posts: 33

I particularly got the cash and regular tournaments to gain experience.

#30

February 5th, 2018, 7:57 PM

PokerTraveler

Online Poker at: pokerstars

Game: nl holdem

Posts: 35

re: Poker & Should beginners play tournaments

for new player good play all types of game cash sng mttwhat be better you know while be playing